As the story goes, this tank saw action in North Africa.
On examination, there is a splash mark and a weld repair on the Loader's side of the
turret. Who knows how long it sat in some rear area repair depot, long forgotten
after the war. In the intervening years it was purchased by the government of
Portugal. In the early 80's it was re-imported back to a company in Georgia as scrap
iron with 80 other tanks. Supposedly 30 of these vehicles went to private collectors
and museums. The other 50, well B&M baked beans come in metal cans. This
tank ended up on display at the Camp Meade Motor Court in Middlesex, Vermont.

Turret looking forward at gun breach. Aiming site muff is upper left of picture.

Turret basket bottom looking forward at driver's compartment on left of picture.
Control levers are mounted overhead. Gauge panel has been removed.

37mm round basket. Blackened mount left of picture is one of 4 gun turret rotation
bearings

Inner turret rotation bearings. Old bearing on the right. Completely
re-machined bearing on the left. We have bearings if you need them for your project!

Old gun turret bearing at top with newly machined bearing in mounting boss ready for
re-assembly.

This is a tank that can shoot on the move! Gyro-stabilized gun system & it still
works!

Turret basket. Note elevating seat in middle of picture

Temporary squatter in the engine bay. Soon 2 caddy V8's will roar in this steel box!

Forward slope of chassis w/ driver & gunner's hatch & air vent.

Rear deck, note radiator & fuel tank caps

Interesting feature in
the pictures at left. Gyro stabilized gun system yet the engine is a pull start.
Bummer if the engine quits in a running gun battle.

Restored driver's seat w/ back removed

Seat fully assembled

Restoration is underwaystay tuned for more pictures.

Amazing what a coat of WD-40 will do!

Updated Pictures
- 12/2005

And pop goes the top!

Outer turret roller assembly

Assembly removed

Roller assembly restored

Periscope block assembly

Air vents

Grenade Box before

Grenade Box after the Metal Shaman worked on it.

"Little Joe" Power Up!

Turret seat assembly

Periscope Box-Pre Shaman

Periscope Box out fitted with latest HIFI gear

One of the air cleaner assemblies

This turret basket is a basket case!

The basket is the actual floor of the turret. And this one has seen years of
dirty feet!

Restored basket

Dramatic improvement from
left to right of the transmission bay.

These photos were taken 10 months apart...

Updated Pictures
04/2007

The "Little
Joe" engine. Located behind the drivers compartment, is a small generator. It
is capable of running the necessary electronics & hydraulic pump for the turret.
This is an auxiliary engine, easy on fuel & quieter than the main engines when the
tank is sitting stationary.

Engine located behind drivers compartment

Engine is in upper left corner, Driver's seat is in upper right

This is Little Joe

Original siren switch bracket after
sandblasting

Repro siren switch bracket and NOS siren switch...sweet is the sound of a loud siren!

One of two new stainless gas tanks.

Driver's gauge panel. All restored, rewired, and ready to work!

We built this....

For this...

Because the town got
upset when we drove the steel shoed behemoth on the black top.

Some creative side plating and we have a parade worthy vehicle!

It appears that all the Stuarts re-imported back in 1982 had additional antenna mounts put
on them.

However, this was not original as the grouser bracket was cut to make room for
the mount.

The offending mount was removed

and a replacement grouser bracket made and welded back in place...

Back
to original.
Please contain your excitement

The inside is painted...We are progressing...

Not the original,
but it will run for now

Updated Pictures
08/2007

Time to go back together

Many Thanks!!!

Left side of gun turret

Left side of turret
restored, just missing the sight face piece and all the rust.

Updated Pictures
02/2009

Ahhh...Nothing more
relaxing than grooming radiator fins on a cold winter's day. Do a row have a beer,
complete ten rows have a shot!!!!!

Peering into the money
hole, Brian wonders if his keys are down there.

Some engine overheating
issues brought us back to using one of two original radiators mounted in its original
mounting position.

The level of detail
increases... Iron Yankee gets a light...

Guide Lamp and Unity Light were the principle suppliers of spotlights and components to
the military during WWII. The spotlight in this configuration could be used while
all hatches were buttoned up and the crew inside.

The "Cordamatic" was a laundry line retractor mounted on the wall. There
was 14 feet of wire attached to a handle that resembled part of a M3 Grease Gun. The
M3 Grease Gun was the personal weapon of tank crews later in the war. By unscrewing
the wing nut on the back of the spotlight you could remove the spotlight head,
attach it to the cordamatic a use it to illuminate any part of the vehicle for maintenance
or whatever the situation warranted.

The inside control: Missing is a quick
disconnect pin that mounted in the empty hole at the bottom and two set pins located to
either side. The control assembly would pull off from the bottom and the shaft and
outside elbow would be taken out through the top. The power source for the light was
mounted to the inside roof and the on/off switch was on the bottom.